Parent Visa Options: Subclass 884 Compared With Subclass 870 in 2026
The two parent visas differ on one decisive point: the Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) runs for 2 years and is designed as the first stage of a permanent pathway, while the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870) allows stays of up to 3 or 5 years at a time for a maximum total of 10 years and is described purely as a temporary visa. The Australian Department of Home Affairs sets out the subclass 884 rules on its Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884) official page, and that same page summarises subclass 870 as a temporary sponsored visa; the details below reflect those official pages as at August 2026. This is general information only and not personalised advice, so anyone making a lodgement decision should confirm the current criteria on the department's pages or with a registered professional.
How long can you actually stay on each visa?
Subclass 884 is a temporary visa that lets you stay in Australia for 2 years, with the visa period starting on the date the visa is granted. It allows multiple entry, so you can leave Australia and return as many times as you want within those 2 years.
The official page is explicit that you cannot stay longer by extending or reapplying for the subclass 884 visa. If you want to remain, you need to apply for a different visa.
Subclass 870 is described differently: it lets parents visit their children in Australia for up to 3 or 5 years at a time, for a maximum total of 10 years. So the comparison is 2 years in one grant versus a total ceiling of 10 years across the life of the 870 arrangement.
Which one can lead to permanent residence?
Subclass 884 can. Holders may apply for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864), and the department describes applying for 884 first as a 2 stage process that lets applicants spread the cost of the visas over several years.
The timing rule matters: you must apply for the permanent subclass 864 visa before your subclass 884 visa expires, to ensure you meet all applicable lodgement criteria. Waiting until after the 2-year visa ends works against you.
Subclass 870 is not described on this page as a pathway to permanent residence. Its framing is a temporary sponsored visa for visiting children in Australia, capped at a maximum total of 10 years.
Can you hold or apply for both 884 and 870?
No, in one direction at least. The eligibility page states you cannot apply for subclass 884 if you have already applied for or hold a Sponsored Parent (Temporary) (subclass 870) visa.
That makes the order of decisions important. Choosing 870 first closes off a later subclass 884 application, and the 884 page does not describe any mechanism to switch a granted or pending 870 application into the 884 stream.
What does the balance of family test require for 884?
Subclass 884 applicants must meet the balance of family test. You meet it if at least half of your children and step-children are eligible children, or if there are more eligible children living in Australia than in any other single country.
This is a separate hurdle from sponsorship and can be the point where a family's plan changes, because it depends on where children live rather than on the parent's circumstances alone.
Who can sponsor you, and how old do you need to be?
You must have an eligible sponsor, and the sponsorship must be approved. Usually an eligible child sponsors you; if your child is under 18, an eligible relative or community organisation can sponsor instead.
You must also be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia. Health and character requirements apply to you and to family members who apply with you, and the department can also ask non-migrating family members to meet them. Other criteria include having repaid any debt to the Australian Government, or having an approved arrangement to pay it back, and signing the Australian Values Statement if you are 18 or over.
Where must you be when you apply for 884?
You, and any family members applying with you, must be in Australia but not in immigration clearance, both when you apply and when the department makes its decision.
If you apply while holding a temporary visa with a no further stay condition, the application will be invalid unless you obtain a waiver of that condition.
What does subclass 884 cost in 2026?
The visa costs from AUD35,430 for a single applicant, with additional charges for each family member who applies with you, and concessions in limited circumstances.
Payment is split into 2 instalments: the first when you apply, the second when the department asks for it. You may also pay separately for health checks, police certificates and biometrics for each applicant.
From 1 July 2026, a lower visa cost applies to eligible Pacific Island and Timor-Leste citizens who lodge a valid application, recognised through a valid passport from a specified country; family members are eligible based on the primary applicant's passport.
How long does a subclass 884 application take?
Demand for Parent visas is greater than the number of places available each year, so processing times are long. Applications are subject to capping and queueing and are processed in the order received.
Assessment happens in 2 stages: an initial assessment decides whether to add the application to the queue or refuse it, and applications are later released from the queue for final assessment as places become available. An application can take longer if it is incomplete, documents are missing, or information takes a long time to verify. The department advises not to arrange to stay permanently in Australia until the visa is granted.
How do the two options fit different family plans?
Assume an applicant whose main goal is that a parent eventually settles permanently. Subclass 884 fits that shape: 2 years in Australia with work and study rights (without government support), then a subclass 864 application lodged before the 2 years expire. The cost is higher than applying directly for subclass 864, but it is spread across the 2 visas over a longer period.
Assume instead an applicant whose main goal is long visits with children in Australia without committing to permanent residence. Subclass 870 fits that shape, with stays of 3 or 5 years at a time up to a total of 10 years, and with the trade-off that holding or having applied for it blocks a subclass 884 application.
Cost, processing queues and eligibility all interact here, and the subclass 870 eligibility criteria are not set out on the department's subclass 884 page, so the subclass 870 requirements should be checked against the department's current published information before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is subclass 884 a permanent visa?
No. Subclass 884 is temporary and allows a stay of 2 years from the date of grant, with multiple entry. It is commonly used as the first stage before applying for the permanent Contributory Aged Parent visa (subclass 864).
Can subclass 870 lead to permanent residency?
The department's subclass 884 page describes subclass 870 as a temporary sponsored visa allowing stays of up to 3 or 5 years at a time for a maximum total of 10 years. It is not presented there as a permanent residence pathway, so requirements should be confirmed on the department's current subclass 870 page.
Can I extend my subclass 884 visa beyond 2 years?
No. You cannot stay longer by extending or reapplying for subclass 884; you would need to apply for a different visa. The permanent subclass 864 application should be lodged before the subclass 884 visa expires.
Can I apply for subclass 884 after holding a subclass 870 visa?
No, if you have already applied for or hold a subclass 870 visa you cannot apply for subclass 884. This makes the first application choice binding in that direction.
Do I need to be in Australia to apply for subclass 884?
Yes. You and any family members applying with you must be in Australia, but not in immigration clearance, both when you apply and when the decision is made.
What age applies to subclass 884 applicants?
You must be old enough to receive the age pension in Australia. You must also have an approved eligible sponsor, usually an eligible child, and meet the balance of family test.
References
Department of Home Affairs — Contributory Aged Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 884)